Virginia Tightens Data Center Rules | Virginia Beach News

Governor Abigail Spanberger just dropped a major move: an executive order ending secret deals for data centers, launching an AI task force, and enforcing tougher environmental rules. Now, any data center over 25 megawatts needs local approval — no more “quick sign-offs.” It’s a clear message: build responsibly or don’t build at all. While lawmakers have long called for regulation — and some cities like Chesapeake and Virginia Beach already imposed their own limits — this order finally catches up to the growing demand for accountability. Still, critics say it doesn’t touch tax breaks, and the state Senate is already diving into deep...